Fluid charging of foods and beverages



May 30, 1939. A w. B. THREM 2,160,043.-

FLUID CHARGING. OF FOODS AND BEVERAGES I r Filed Dec. 2a,v 1937 2 sheets-sheet 1 Patented May .30, 19.39

PATENT OFFICE FLUID cnARGmG or Foons AND BEvERAcEs William B. Threm, Toledo, Ohio Application December 28, 1937, Serial No. 182,138 n Claims.

This invention relates to gas. pressure storage and release for so-called aeration or volume expandingof foods and beverages, as well as contributing to the palatability thereof. 5 This invention has utility when incorporated in primary and secondary or intermediate gas pressure containers or receivers which are manually controlled for extent. of aeration and control thereof as desired.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention comprising an assembly of primary and secondary 'pressure containers;

yFig. 2 is a side elevation of the assembly of Fig. 1, say as adapted for semi-fluid or liquid, such as cream;

Fig. 3 is va section on the line III-III, Fig. lI showing the duct communication ways through the assembled containers;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the high pressure or primary container;

Fig. 5 is a view from the left or port delivery end of the primary container of Fig. 4;

' Fig. 6 is a view from the right or gland end of 25 Fig. 4, with the vcontrol wrenchin position for operating the needle valve;

Fig. 'I is a side elevation, with parts broken.

away, of theprimary and secondary containers in which the secondary container is provided with a non-metallic receiver for material;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the trigger valve control for the spout device 'or delivery ofthe-assembly of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a section on the line IX-IX, Fig. 8,

showing the passages therethrough, with omission of the primary or high pressure.' container;

Fig. 10 is a section on the line X-X, Fig. 9, on

a reduced scale;

Fig. 11 is a view of secondary container portions similar to Fig. 9, in which the non-metal- '40 lic material receiving portion as a synthetic cornposition is molded directly into the lower or major element of the secondary container; and

Fig. 12 is a section through the primary` container and its assembly, with said container having but a single fitting.

The flat sheet metal blanks or tubular sections as approximately similar units .are conformed \into chambers I (Fig. 3) having weld assembly 0 2 therebetween and externally threaded stems 3 upon opposite ends therefrom. One of the stems 3 at the delivery end has an inwardly directed flange 4 terminating in a port has an inwardly directed flange 6 withv internally 55 threaded sleeve 1 to coact with externally thread- 5. The remote end ed portion 8 of needle valve stem 9 having needle valve tip IIl cooperating with the port 5 at the flange 4. Remote from the needle valve tip I0, this stem 9 has flattened projection II, with which may fit opening I2 of wrench I3 for rotating this valve or plunger stem 9 to effect reciprocation toward or away from the port 5. Adjacent this threaded portion 8 of the needle valve stem 9, there is provision of gland having compressible packing I4 to bevacted upon by cup or cap' lo I5, thereby'eiecting the sealing tight at high pressure so that cartridge chamber I6 may be loaded, say from a compression cylinder, with gas as nitrous oxid, carbon dioxid, or oxygen at a pressure of say thirty or more atmospheres.

As thus charged and sealed, this unit may have its externally threaded portion 3 adjacent th port 5v thrust along compressible gasket I1 to have the threaded portion 3 engaged with the internally threaded portion I8 of fitting I9, thereby to crowd this gasket I1 upon the enlargement I in effecting a high pressure sealing with this fitting of the primary container as charged. This fitting I9 has threaded connection 20 for its duct 2| to communicate with the Achamber 22 in closure 22. This closure 22' has external thread 2.5 portion 23 and internal thread portion 24. The internal thread portion 24 is in assemblywith tubular steml 25, shown as extending adjacent the bottom of cup 26, herein shown as of metal.

The upper portion of this cup is provided with seat 21 for compressible gasket 28 in which may ride flange 29 as weld or sweat assembled withA cap 30. This cap 30 has opening 3l, through which the tube 25 passes, which opening about the tube is sealed by compressible gasket 32 as thrust thereagainst. Envelopingthis cup 26 is housing chamber 33 desirably of metal having external threading 34 to` coact with internal vthreading 35 of complementary housing member 36 with threading 31 to register with the threading 23 on the head or closure 22'. Accordingly, with the assembly of the housing members 33, 36, effected at the threaded portion 34, 35, thrusting of the tube 25 into the cup 26 with coopera- 5 tion between the threads 23, 31, is eiective through the gasket4 32 not only to seal the tube assembly with the cap 30 but to effect sealing between the cap 30 and the cup 26 at .the seal 28. There is,.accordingly, an eiiective sealing of chamber 38 which has a jacket chamber 39 there- `about as a resistance to'temperature change.

The head 22' has therein seat 4I! against which may rest plunger 4I having stem 42 extending through opening 43 to 'cap 44 as threaded on the 55 l which with its residue from such second or drop' stem Q3 and thereby engaging compression spring @i5 to hold such against flange d6 at packing 5l. Accordingly, this valve is eiective to isolate the chamber 22 from chamber t8 in the head. From this chamber #i8 delivery spout 49 may be elective to spill the charge as directed in operating the device wherein the operator may grip the primary vessel or container as a handle and use the thumb to depress the cap 44 to lift compressible head of plunger 4| off seat" 150.

In practice, say with this cup 26 charged with coffee cream, not necessarily whipping cream, and with the gas nitrous oXid and the pressure upward of 400 pounds per square inch, a half pint of this cream may be suicient for as many as forty services at a soda fountain as for beverages, or at a lunch counter as for portions upon cake, pie, fruits, or other services. There is, accordingly, economy in this set-up for eicient magnification of the liquid `or semi-liquid in charging such with gas, thereby to contribute materially to its appetizing value and have such available for continuous or intermittent service, even over delayed periods of time, for the combined containers may be stored in a chilled region, as a mechanical refrigerator, at a desired tem- In assembly initially the `high pressure gas may be kept in a primary container or may be discharged into the secondary container 3B either until pressure is equalized therebetween or for fractional amount from the container chamber I6. As the desired extent of charge is effected, it is desirable to operate the Wrench i3 to close the container I6 to keep it out of communication with the chamber 38 during the operation of the valve from the handle ifi for discharge at the spout Q9. However, as the effective discharge may be slowed up, say due to the pressure in the chamber 3B being around 40 or 50 pounds, there may be a re-opening of the chamber i5 in pressure may equalize and thereby provide a second building up of pressure in the chamber 38 for further eiective discharge in economic functioning of the equipment herein.

This secondary container is one which is for milk or dairy products, hot tin coated as to its elements forming the chamber 38 and the delivery ways therefrom, thereby assuring that the article is sanitary equipment and susceptible of ready cleansing, and the charging may be with so-calleii heavy cream or coffee cream, not necessarily whipping cream, even though such be the desired purpose for use. The high pressure unit may be returned or otherwise located for recharging with a high pressure gas, say nitrous oxid for whipping cream or even carbon dioxid. In the event carbon dioxid be used, say for carbonating waters, the chamber 38 may be the receiver for such water in lieu of the cream.

For primary use with other than dairy products, there may be diierent or larger capacity outer housing 5I) in which is located vitreous, plastic, or synthetic cup 5| (Fig. 9) having gasket 52 under compression from complementary vessel member 53 as a cap housed by companion member 54 to the member 55. The housing 55 may have therein synthetic or composition cup 55 (Fig. 11) molded directly against the inner wall of this housing member 5U. Accordingly, the metal wall 50 itself is a reinforcement here as is the metal wall 26 a reinforcement for the milk or dairy product charge therein.

In this set-up, the primary container may be charged with say carbon dioxid, and in lieu of curved spout i9 there may be straight spout 56, and instead of thumb pressure at the disk 4d, arms 5l may extend up to mount fulcrum 58 for lever 59 to be operated in opening the valve against the action of the spring d5 in effecting discharge of material therefrom.

In lieu of the gland in addition to the port fitting, the primary container (Fig. 12) may embody medial cylindrical portion 50 having hemispherical end 5l with weld connection 52 assembling such with the major tubular portion. Remote therefrom hemispherical section 63 may have weld assembly 55 with this tubular section,rv

thereby to complete chamber '65. The hemispherical section 53 is shown provided with externally threaded tubular portion or fitting 6B, about which may be placed compressible gasket 51 as this device is inserted in tting I9 toward spider 68 having opening 59 therethrough and central projecting stem or plunger l0. This plunger l0, as this fitting 65 is threaded into the internally threaded portion i3 of this fitting I9, brings terminal port li about thisstem l5. This tubular extension G6 of the fitting, in its extent from the chamber 55 toward the port 1l, has tubular portion l2 in which is located valve seat 73, normally as thrust by compres'sible helical spring M, closing this port 'l l. This helical spring 'M is held .in compression as abutting collar 'l5 fixed on the stem 75 extending through the chamber 55 and as to which this valve seat 13 is guided for its movement in response to the stem 10.

As this primary chamber is charged, the gas under pressure therein normally tends to seat this valve 13 at the port it. The spring insures against casual shifting therefrom. However, as

this tting is brought into position to have the stem lil through the port ll unseat the valve 13, the pressure in this container 65 is released to now through the duct 2l into the secondary container. This fitting is subject to ready recharging as exhausted from its assembly relation with the secondary container. In such assembly condition it has its cooperative relation as a grip or handle.

What is claimed and it is desired Letters Patent is:

1. A primary high pressure uid container including a valve fully operative therewith for opening and closing as desired, a secondary receiver for material to be pressure expelled therefrom, said secondary receiver including a cup, a cap for the cup, a tube, a closure mounting the tube to extend through the cap into the cup for pressure `applying the cap into sealing relation with the cup, there being a fitting on the closure for the primary container to deliver fluid into the tube, a delivery spout from the closure, and a valve controlling flow from the cup through the tube for discharge by the spout.

2. A primary high pressure fluid container including a valve fully operative therewith Afor opening and closing as desired, a secondary receiver for material to be pressure expelled therefrom, said secondary receiver including a cup, a cap for the cup, a tube. a closure assembled 1n the tube and 'cap and coacting with the cup to apply pressure between the cap and cup, there being a tting radially from the closure locating the primary container as a handle fitting and for delivering uld from the primary container into the cup, a delivery spout from the closure oppoto secure by site the handle tting, and a valve controlling the flow from the closure by way of the spout. i

3. A primary high pressure fluid container including a valve fully operative therewith for opening and closing as desired, a secondary receiver for material to be pressure expelled therefrom, said secondary receiver including a cup, a cap for the cup, a tube, a closure assembled in the tube and cap and coacting with the cup to applyl pressure between the cap and cup, there being a tting radially from the closure locating the primary container as a handle tting and for delivering iiuid from the primary container into the cup, a delivery spout from the closure opposite the handle tting, and a valve controlling the flow from the closure by way ofthe spout, there being a lever'for operating the valve, said lever extending adjacent the handle tting.

4. A luid charging primary container having a manual' control for releasing for different pressures in desired fractions thereof, said primary container comprising a pair of sheet metal drawn sections medlally welded into a reinforcing sealing seam about said combined sections as a tube, and terminally at one end providing a gas delivery port and at the opposite end a gland.

5. A fluid charger embodying a primary relatively high pressure fluid container of tubular cartridge form having reduced diameter exteriorly threaded cylindrical ends, there being a normally closed needle valve port in one end, a cap forthe other end providing a gland, land a stem through the container providing a needle valve at the port and having threaded coopera; tion with the end of the container at the gland and protruding through the gland.`

WILLIAM B. 

